Hi everyone.   This Sunday is "All Saints' Sunday" or, more formally, "The Sunday Next Following All Saints' Day".    Some time ago, there was a marvelous movie starring John Travolta about an angel (played by Travolta) come to earth on some mission.  I think his name was Michael, and that may have been the name of the movie as well.  In any case, the angel is not at all what the couple who wind up traveling with him expected.  He was what my mother used to … [Read more...]

Hi everyone.   This Sunday is Halloween, or, more properly, the Eve of All Saints' Day.  All Saints' Day always falls on November 1st.  It's what the Church calls an "immovable" feast day, meaning simply that it always falls on the same date, no matter what day of the week it is.  Christmas is another immovable feast day in the Church calendar because it always falls on the 25th of December.  The only other one is Epiphany which always falls on January 6.   Some … [Read more...]

Hi everyone.   Back to the normal service schedule this Sunday.  The next "joint service" will be on December 5 (2nd Advent) when we celebrate the end of the capital campaign.   The first reading for this Sunday is from the Book of Sirach, and I'll bet a week's pay that most people have never heard of this book of the Bible.  The more common name for the book is "Ecclesiasticus", but in recent years the Church has tried to avoid calling it that because it's … [Read more...]

Hi   Just a few reminders   ·        This Sunday is Consecration Sunday and there will be two services: 7:45am and 10am.  A parish wide brunch hosted by the vestry will follow the 10am service in Bartholomew Hall.   ·        There will be no Sunday school or Journey To Adulthood classes this Sunday.   Have a great weekend and see you on Sunday Luann   Go Phillies!   … [Read more...]

Hi Everyone.   This Sunday is Consecration Sunday, so there will be two services, at 7:45 and 10:00, followed by a parish-wide brunch.  Also, no Sunday School this Sunday.   Many names have literal meanings.  My name, for example ("Timothy") is derived from the Greek.  time in Greek means "to honor"; theos means God.  time-theos means "to honor God".  All-in-all, not a bad name for a clergyman to have.   In the Bible, many of the Hebrew names have literal … [Read more...]